Complete disaster: 5 things we learned from the U-23 Azkals’ SEA Games campaign

Ryan Fenix, special to InterAKTV

Going into the 26th edition of the SEA Games in Indonesia, expectations were high for our football team and for good reason. With senior players Jason de Jong and Manny Ott bannering the team that was reinforced by MV Duisburg third choice goalkeeper Roland Muller and standouts from the local Under-23 Suzuki Cup, fans had every reason to look forward to this tournament.

However, with only a last gasp victory against Laos to show for itself, the Philippines’ ambitious push for a medal finish in Jakarta turned out to be a complete disaster.
Here are five things we learned from our SEA Games debacle.

1. Coaching staff have to play people in their natural positions

One of the more curious decisions of coach Hans Michael Weiss was naming only five natural defenders to the final line-up, namely Carli de Murga, Raymark Fernandez, Neckson Leonora, Jacques van Bossche and David Basa. It does not take a football genius to underscore the fact that poor form, suspensions and injuries are bound to take its toll on a team, especially in a group stage format. As a matter of fact, coaches normally take eight defenders to tournaments, translating to two players per position.

Therefore, when the suspensions did happen, the coaching staff found it necessary to shoehorn players out of their natural playing position into our defense.

Patrick Hinrichsen, a natural right-footed midfielder, was preferred by the coaching staff to start at left-back against Timor Leste and Brunei — both losses.
Erstwhile captain Matt Hartmann, for instance, was himself deployed out of position in central defense when his best position would have been in midfield.

Jason de Jong, who inherited the captain’s armband, acquitted himself with his performances in central defense. But the question was: Did the midfield lose some steel with his move to the back four?

One could argue that defenders Jerry Barbaso and the 6’1” Lemuel Unabia, both omitted from the final list, may have been better defensive options for the team.

Coach Weiss has a history of preferring “better” technical and more experienced players rather than “riskier” inexperienced players, natural playing positions be damned. This time, this decision backfired on him in a spectacular fashion.

2.) More prep time was needed for the Under-23 Philippine team

The U-23 Azkals were exposed mercilessly by better-prepared and well-coached opponents, and the results spoke for themselves. Last place in the optimistically named “Group of Hope” and virtually finishing the tournament as the 10th placed team out of eleven nations, our involvement in the SEA Games football competition was a complete and total disaster.

At the risk of stating the blatantly obvious, more preparation time and a longer period of training was needed. These kids should not be expected to emulate their senior counterparts, where Azkals based in Europe would arrive three days before a tournament, shake off screaming fans and jetlag, and bedevil opposing defenses with dazzling runs and crucial goals for good measure.

Engaging in proper friendlies in the run-up to the tournament would undoubtedly increase cohesion and understanding within the team, whether or not the team wins in them.

Case in point: The Long Teng Cup in Taiwan could have and should have been utilized exclusively for the U -23 squad’s training. Held over a month before the SEA Games, there was debatably no need for the senior team’s presence in Kaohsiung.

Perhaps management thought it necessary to validate the rise of football with a glorious piece of silverware from Taiwan; perhaps management was afraid that our U-23 Azkals would get blown out in a four-nation tournament featuring international football powerhouses Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong (Editor’s note: Ryan is being ironic). Whatever the reasons were, the Long Teng Cup was a missed opportunity for the U-23 to face challenge and adversity together in a competitive setting.

Jeff Christiaens, who made the left flank his own in the SEA Games, would certainly have found it more difficult to break down more experienced defenses. But knowing that he is the main man on that left wing could’ve spurred him to achieve greater heights in Taiwan, which he could’ve carried to Jakarta. As it turned out, the man whose slot he will almost certainly inherit, Chieffy Caligdong won the Golden Boot. But at what potential lost opportunity for the young Christiaens?

3. There is a legitimate call for a dedicated U-23 Coach.

The SEA Games was always going to be a test for Coach Weiss’ coaching skills. The senior team have arguably achieved a certain level of success before he took over, as the team just reached the semi-finals of the Suzuki Cup in 2010.

The U-23 team, on the other hand, is a totally different proposition altogether. Having to build a team from scratch, the team was composed from standouts from the recently held U-23 Suzuki Cup and a smattering of foreign-based Azkals.

A dedicated U-23 coach could’ve watched all the games of the U-23 Suzuki Cup and would’ve taken notice of the standouts in the said tournament.

True, Joshua Beloya, Ojay Clarino and Leonora were eventually drafted into the starting eleven and had big roles to play for Team Philippines. But perhaps, what was missing was watching the games live to know first-hand how to utilize these players in game situations.

In The Art of War, Sun Tzu said: “To rely on rustics and not prepare is the greatest of crimes.”

What is applicable in war, is most certainly applicable in football.

4. The choice of the captain is crucial in a young team.

The role of the captain in football, or any sport, is fairly straightforward. As captain, he is the leader of the team and to a certain extent, an extension of the coach on the field.

When Matthew James Calibjo Hartmann left Jakarta, Indonesia in the middle of the U-23 Azkals campaign in the SEA Games, he not only let his team and teammates down, he let the entire nation down with his actions.

Matt Hartmann was reportedly upset at being substituted midway through the game against Timor Leste and support for him from fellow players was supposedly at an all-time low. Regardless of what happened, no circumstance would justify a captain abandoning his team midway through its journey.

With two losses in its first two games, it was the captain’s duty to galvanize the team and be their strength in the time of crisis. Whether he would do it on the pitch in the next game, or on the bench does not matter, he has to stay on to steady the ship.

Taking the easy way out by abandoning ship is certainly one way of not endearing yourself to the football fans. It is most certainly a shameful display of someone not understanding the weight and responsibility of the captain’s armband.

Credit has to be given, however, to his younger brother Mark Hartmann who stayed on and put on a sterling performance against Laos. Delivering two assists that setup Beloya’s historic late goals, Mark displayed mental toughness to continue playing his game and helping the team get the needed victory.

5. Philippine football has potential with this group of youngsters.

It may not seem apparent at the moment, but there are positives to take out from our calamitous SEA Games campaign. This writer Echoes Dan Palami’s statement that “the Philippines has some of the best individual players in the tournament.”

Roland Muller single-handedly kept the Azkals in the game in our opening match against Vietnam. Jeff Christiaens exploits on the left flank earned plaudits from local fans. OJ Porteria, all 17 years young, displayed explosive pace on the wings.

Joshua Beloya’s two late goals will surely live long into Philippine footballing lore. Carli de Murga’s solid showing on the right side of defense forced opponents to exploit our problematic left flank, the graveyard of Azkals defenders in this tournament.

In the face of all the criticism, we must all remember, this still is a very young team, composed of very young players. Fifteen out of the twenty members of this team will still be eligible to play in the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar.

The onus is now squarely on the hands of the PFF. We may chalk this failure on inexperience, poor planning and some questionable coaching decisions. Come 2013, these same reasons certainly will no longer be tolerated by an increasingly mature footballing nation.

SEA Games: Myanmar outclass Junior Azkals, 5-0

Roy Moore/OMG, GMA News

Chemistry was what many felt was lacking in the Junior Azkals, the country’s under-23 team competing in the 26th Southeast Asian Games.

On Sunday, it showed.

The Junior Azkals were bamboozled by Myanmar, 0-5, in a match that showed everything lacking in the national team that could be considered as a rag-tag squad that gathered much less attention than their popular elders Azkals.

As result, Myanmar booked itself a seat in the semifinals, tying the three wins as a against a draw record of powerhouse Vietnam in Group B.

A well orchestrated performance from Myanmar condemned the Philippines to a group finish, shattering any lingering dreams of a semi final spot. First half goals from captain Aye San and Kyaw Zayar Win were added to by a double from Kyaw Ko Ko and a fifth goal from Shwe Hlaing Win as Burma dominated the Junior Azkals.

First Half

Before the game the Philippines knew only a win would keep them in contention for qualifying from the group. History didn’t bode well for the Azkals who lost to Burma 4-1 in 1999, the last time the two countries played in the SEA Games.

Any hopes were quickly dampened, however, when Myanmar captain Aye San tapped into an open goal from a corner in the 7th minute. Roland Müller failed to catch the first corner and dropped the ball but was saved when Carli De Murga headed it off the line. The second corner was crossed in and bounced right in front of Müller who let it slip through his fingers and the Myanmar captain Aye San tapped into the open goal.

The Junior Azkals’ only chance of the first half fell to Porteria who was left unmarked at the far post when a well hit cross came in from the left. He skied the volley, though given the position and the difficulty of the technique, it was understandably difficult.

However just a few minutes from half-time Myanmar took a two goal lead when Kyi Lin ran unmarked in the area. He couldn’t control the ball but it bobbled kindly for Kyaw Zayar Win to poke past Müller for his second goal of the tournament in the 41st minute.

Myanmar defender Moe Win then went down awkwardly from the last chance of the half. Jeffrey Christiaens floated in a free-kick from 25 yards rather than shooting and the ball glided out of touch. Moe Win stayed on the floor, however, with commentator Bob Guerrero suggesting he had possibly dislocated or broken his collar bone. His own players immediately signaled for a substitution as the half-time whistle blew leaving the Junior Azkals with another mountain to climb.

Second Half

Mark Hartmann replaced Jinggoy Valmayor at half-time as Coach Weiss looked to Hartmann to cut open the Myanmar side, who only just missed out on the semi finals in the 2009 SEA Games. Just one point behind both Laos and Singapore last time this win takes them a step closer to the Semis.
It was Burma who started the second half sharpest, dribbling directly through the Junior Azkals line and passing through the central defenders for Kyaw Ko Ko to blast the ball past Müller in the 46th minute. The goal put Myanmar three ahead, adding peaks to the mountain.

Myanmar continued to dominate and the defensive problems compounded. Coach Weiss substituted Neckson Leonora for another defender, Reymark Fernandez, something unusual for coaches to do while losing. With only five defenders named for the twenty-three man squad the team conceded their eleventh goal of the campaign when Kyaw Ko Ko lifted the ball over one defender, then a second, before slotting past Müller to give Myanmar an unassailable 4-0 lead in the 55th minute and become the joint top scorer of the tournament so far.

Minutes later the hero from the Laos game, Joshua Beloya, came in for Jeffrey Christiaens who had previously looked the most likely to score for the Philippines. But Beloya had little chance to make an impact as Manny Ott was soon sent off for his second yellow card ten minutes from the end. Though his tackle of the Myanmar player from behind wasn’t that dangerous it was simply one foul too many from Ott and he received his marching orders.

Adding insult to injury, Myanmar scored a fifth and wrapped up the win in injury time as Min Min Thu burst past the defense to collect a through ball. His attempted cross was tipped away by Müller but only into the path of Shwe Hlaing Win who slotted into the open goal in the 92nd minute.

Only Brunei left

This heavy loss confirms that the Philippines will not qualify for the semi-finals. Manny Ott and Roland Müller will also miss the final game of the Junior Azkals’ tournament agaist Brunei as Ott was sent off and Müller picked up his second yellow card of the tournament. Brunei is probably the weakest side in the tournament, though, and the Junior Azkals will be playing for pride on Tuesday, November 15th, 8pm.

Beloya’s two late goals lift U-23 Azkals over Laos

By Sid Ventura | Sportsaholic

On an 11/11/11 playdate, it was perhaps fitting that the player wearing jersey no. 11 would rescue the Philippines from another loss.
Down a man and a goal and just minutes from elimination, the U-23 Azkals turned to substitute Joshua Beloya, who scored two goals in the last three minutes to give the Philippine side a pulsating 3-2 win over Laos in the football competition of the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta.
It was the first win for the U2-3 Azkals in Group B, giving them three points to leapfrog over their victims and Brunei, who now both share the cellar with one point apiece. But for majority of the second half, Laos was seemingly on its way to notching its first win and moving up to four points. That is, until fate, luck, the power of the number 11, or whatever you want to call it intervened.
Manny Ott gave the Philippines an early lead, gathering a pass from Jinggoy Valmayor to slot home a goal in the seventh minute. But Laos, showing better form in the midfield, equalized in the 38th off a cross from Soukhaphone Vongch that found captain Lamnao Singto, who easily found the back of the net. Singto gave Laos the lead in the 46th, his fourth goal of the tournament, and it looked like the Philippines' campaign in Jakarta was headed to a premature end.
Things only got worse for the U-23 Azkals after defender Patrick Hinrichsen was sent off in the 61st minute for drawing two yellow cards in succession. Down to 10 men and needing to score, Coach Hans Michael Weiss sent in Mark Hartmann in the 61st minute for an ineffective OJ Clarino, in hopes of improving the Philippines' attack.
The move paid off as Hartmann breathed new life into the Azkals' attack, and nearly scored the equalizer in the 66th with a low free kick that was on target but was batted out at the last possible second by the Laotian keeper.
Laos kept its defense solid and nearly scored a couple of times on counter-attacks, and with the match approaching injury time, it seemed the Philippines was going to absorb its third straight setback. But in the 90th minute, Hartmann beat the offside trap and, barely onside, had only the keeper to beat. The Loyola Meralco Sparks mainstay waited for the keeper to commit before passing off to Beloya, who easily tapped the ball in for the equalizer.
With three minutes of injury time added, a stunned Laos tried to salvage a win and stepped up its attack. But the Philippines held firm, and a perfect long ball from Hartmann found Beloya advancing from top of the box. The substitute striker gathered the pass perfectly, juggled the ball a bit to shake off his defender, then found the back of the net from a strike from close range in the 93rd minute.
Moments later, the referee blew his final whistle, and the U-23 Azkals incredibly found themselves still in contention.
The team badly needed this win, not only to avoid elimination but to also lift their sagging morale, which had hit rock bottom following their 1-2 loss to Timor Leste and reports that captain Matthew Hartmann was sent home as a disciplinary measure.
For Laos, it was a bitter loss. They controlled the tempo of the match, and had a 55-45 advantage in possession. Yet despite being a man up and facing a depleted Philippine back line, they just could not find an insurance goal and seemed to relax in the end game.
The Philippines is not yet out of the woods, though. Vietnam and Myanmar share first place in Group B with seven points, while Timor Leste isn't far behind at solo third with six. The junior Azkals, now at fourth with three points, face Myanmar in Sunday, and obviously need to win again. Myanmar thrashed Brunei, 4-0, and also came from behind to beat Laos, 3-2. They drew with Vietnam.

SEAG: Azkals U-23s taking it one game at a time

by TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News

JAKARTA, Indonesia - It's been 2 days since the under-23 Philippine football team suffered their 2nd defeat at the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

They had a rest day on Tuesday and are back on the pitch practicing Wednesday, 2 days before their next match against Laos.

Have the young Azkals gotten their bearings back and ready to make a miracle run to qualify for the semifinals?

Coach Hans Michael Weiss says the key is to take things one match a time rather than to look at the daunting task of having to win the remaining 3 matches and hope for miracles against the leading teams in their bracket like Timor Leste and Vietnam.

In an ironic way, the 2 losses have sort of lifted some pressure off the shoulders of the young Azkals, 15 of whom will still be eligible for the 2013 SEA Games.

Weiss adds that they must now really focus on defense and take note of their lapses versus Timor Leste and Vietnam that virtually broke their backs.

Laos is next up for the U-23 Philippine Football team set on November 11, 4 p.m. Jakarta time.

Familiar face
Meanwhile, a familiar face in Philippine Football is now on the sidelines for the first time as an assistant coach.

Veteran national team member Yanti Bersales, who retired after the Myanmar match in June, is part of the coaching staff in Jakarta.

From what he's seen, he hopes the boys learn to loosen up and relieve themselves of the unnecessary pressure on them.

He says they should value this experience and exposure they are getting at such a young age.

As for bouncing back, Bersales says they have to forget what happened in the last 2 matches and simply look forward to their next opponent, Laos.

It’s as simple as that.

So far Bersales’ presence and veteran advice has been a welcome addition to the staff handling the very young team.

Azkals woes highlight need to develop locals

By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star)


MANILA, Philippines - The lack of cohesion bogging the Philippine under-23 Azkals in the 26th Southeast Asian Games has emphasized once again the need to develop more home-grown talents committed to train together for longer periods.

“(Team manager) Dan Palami and (coach Michael) Weiss have the best of intentions. Dan spent to get the best (players from Europe). But football is teamwork. You can’t achieve it in three days or one week of practice,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman Monico Puentevella, also a member of the advisory council of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

For this campaign, team management has assembled a combo of local-based players and pros plying their trade in Europe, like Roland Muller, Manny Ott, Jeffrey Christiaens and Carli de Murga. The Euro-based booters only joined the team in Indonesia already, in time for their first game.

The U23 Azkals dropped a 1-3 loss to Vietnam and a 1-2 setback to darkhorse Timor Leste as their semifinal bid got dimmer each game day.

“Our players in the under-23 are not short of talent. But to put them in the field to play as a team, you need more time of playing together,” observed Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia.

Puentevella batted for a stronger grassroots development program.

“I guess we can’t rely on the guys from outside all the time. Grassroots must be strengthened. We must go back to the drawing board,” said Puentevella.

Weiss said he’s already entertaining the idea of tapping more locals next time, but asked for a more tempered expectation from Filipino fans.

“A lot of these boys are very young; they can still play in 2013 SEA Games. The hopes in the Philippines now are way too high; we should lower our expectations, work hard, and continue to build up players who are having the right heart beat and not thinking themselves as superstars because somebody admires them in the Philippines.

“I should very well think who to bring here for this tournament, one idea is to bring more local players and see how they can compete in international exposure,” he said.

The U23 Azkals stand at the rear in Group B with no point to show after two games. Timor Leste holds the unlikely lead with six points (two wins) followed by Vietnam and Myanmar with identical four points (1-1-0), and Laos and Brunei with one apiece (0-1-1).

Phl XI battles Laos on Friday, Myanmar on Sunday and Brunei in Tuesday, gunning for victories while hoping the leaders wouldn’t pile up the points to keep their slim chance for the semis.

But Weiss himself is practically conceding a place in the medal rounds.

“We have to think now of the immediate strategy as the tournament is most likely not on us. We do not even have to think of the semifinals,” the German mentor said.

Junior Azkals open SEA Games campaign with 3-1 loss to favorite Vietnam

ROY MOORE, GMA News

The Philippine Under-23 team dropped a 3-1 decision over Vietnam Thursday at the start of football competitions in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Manny Ott put the Philippines in front when Mark Hartmann played a well disguised pass to the Filipino-German central midfielder who hit the ball on the half volley.

Roland Müller had several great defensive stops as the Philippines enjoyed a 1-0 halftime lead.

But that was short lived as Vietnam equalized in the second half as Matt Hartman headed in an own goal after several great saves from Müller.

Müller continued to save shot after shot in the second half but Hoang Thien made it 2-1 for the 2009 SEA Games silver medalist in the 73rd minute.

Nguyen Van Quyet, eloquently curling into the top corner, scored Vietnam's other goal in the 91st minute of stoppage time.

The Junior Azkals will have a lighter opponent in their next game when they face Timor Leste on November 7.

First half

Vietnam had been in charge of the game in the first half with 65 percent of the possession. Fashioning several good chances Van Bosshe first cleared as a Vietnamese forward rounded Müller in goal before the Azkals goalie then produced a fantastic save from point blank range.

Vietnam were playing great possession football and tore apart the Azkals defense with quick movement, forming triangles between the players to round the Azkals defense.

It would be kind to suggest the Azkals were playing a zonal marking system with the Vietnamese attackers seeming to move away from defenders at will. Vietnam should have been leading but Müller and Van Bosshe kept the scores level before Ott broke the deadlock in the 37th minute to put the Azkals ahead going into the break.

Showing great technique Ott at first was deemed unavailable for the Philippine U23 team having to look for a new club back in Germany but a change of heart brought him to Indonesia at the last minute and coach Michael Weiss was pleased with his first-half contribution.

Second half

The second half started with both sides hitting the post early on. Neckson Leonora conceded a foul and a yellow card, though replays showed his slide tackle didn't make contact with the Vietnamese player. The ball was whipped in well and Müller was beaten from the header but the crossbar came to his rescue.

The Azkals then broke and Ott won possession in the Vietnamese area, held the ball up before laying it off. The following shot curled beautifully, again leaving the keeper with no chance, but the post saved Vietnam this time.

Müller then made two fantastic saves to keep the Philippines' ahead, blocking one-on-one attacks as the Vietnamese time and time again broke through the defensive line. Having been offside several times in the first half Vietnam seemed to find their rhythm and forced Müller into some great saves.

It seemed no Vietnamese player could beat Müller and indeed Vietnam's equalizer came from an own goal. Vietnam crossed from the left and Hartmann inadvertently headed the ball into the back of the net.

Unlucky to concede the goal in such a manner the Azkals could have no argument that it was undeserved. Vietnam then went ahead when a chipped through ball sent their attackers through but Müller got to the ball first and punched away. The ball fell into the path of Thien, who passed comfortably into the open net. The marking was lapse once more and Müller was forced off his line, unlucky that his clearance reached a Vietnamese player.

Minutes later Müller made another great save as Vietnam got through again only to be beaten back by the Azkals keeper. Vietnam should have had a third when Chu Ngoc Anh misfired from just a few yards out in the 90th minute when the ball was cut back to him.

Icing on the cake

Vietnam did get their third goal with virtually the last kick of the game though. Pushing forward the Azkals were caught on the break and a four-on-four ended with the ball being worked well from the right before Van Quyen turned his man and curled into the top corner to wrap up the win.

The 3-1 win completes Vietnam's revenge for the 2-0 loss loss in last year's Suzuki Cup. With the Philippines recording a shock victory then coach Henrique Calisto refused to shake hands with then Philippine coach Simon McMenemy after the match.

This time around the coaches were more professional.

Looking to cement their position as group favorites, Vietnam did just that with some very fluid football, great passing and movement causing problems for the Azkals' defense throughout the game. If not for the Philippines' man of the match Roland Müller in goal the scoreline could have got embarrassing.

In context

Since the tournament changed format from the Senior teams to the Under-23 teams in 2001, Vietnam holds a decent record with three silvers out of the last five tournaments. Vietnam has never won the SEA Games gold, though South Vietnam ruled the tournament in 1959. The defending silver medalists will be going for gold and it must be remembered that this was the Philippines' toughest game of the group.

By contrast this 3-1 loss is the first time the Philippines has competed in the tournament since 2005 where they finished third in the group, just missing out on the semifinals. Vietnam deserved the win with 71 percent of the possession throughout the game but the Philippines will be looking to bounce back against Timor Leste on Monday, November 7.

The Azkals will need to be cautious of yellow cards, though, with Jeff Christiaens, Neckson Leonora, De Murga and of course Jason De Jong picking up bookings.

However expecting victories against Timor Leste and Brunei, good performances against Laos and Burma will send the Azkals into the semis with a good shot at a medal

Before the match Weiss called for the realistic aim of finishing second in the group. Now the Azkals will have to rise again to qualify and once more make history.

U-23 Azkals fall to Vietnam

By Sid Ventura | Sportsaholic

The Philippines, back after a six-year absence, was given a rude "welcome back" by Vietnam and fell 1-3, at the start of the football competition in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Vietnamese, silver medalists in 2009, controlled possession 71% of the time, but found themselves trailing 0-1 after Fil-German Manny Ott scored on a strike from the top of the penalty off a back heel pass from Mark Hartmann in the 37th minute.
The U-23 Azkals narrowly missed going up 2-0 in the 51st minute when OJ Porteria hit the far post from a strike from the right flank. It would turn out to be their last and best chance to score as Vietnam dominated the rest of the match. The Philippines could get nothing going offensively in the second half, relying mostly on long balls that were easily read by the Vietnamese defense. Meanwhile, Vietnam constantly attacked the left side of the Philippine defense, getting several balls in as left back Neckson Leonora was simply overmatched.
It was only a matter of time before Vietnam scored given the Philippines' porous defense, but the equalizer came from an own goal by Matt Hartmann in the 59th minute. Attempting to clear a ball in from a Vietnamese midfielder, Hartmann miscalculated his header and accidentally found the back of the net. Everything just went downhill from there.
In the 73rd, goalkeeper Roland Muller punched the ball directly to Vietnamese midfielder Le Van Thang, who easily scored on an open net as Muller couldn't recover in time. Then in the last minute of injury time, Nguyen Van Quyet deftly outmaneuvered Matt Hartmann to unleash a left-footed strike that caught the edge of the post and curled in.
The shaky defensive line of the Philippines plus Vietnam's efficient passing more than justified the final score, but in reality it could have easily been 5-1 or 6-1 were it not for the excellent goalkeeping of Muller, who thwarted at least three Vietnamese attacks that looked like sure goals.
The Junior Azkals try to regroup on Monday when they battle Timor Leste at 5PM Manila time. They can still make it to the medal round but need to avoid a second loss in their remaining four matches. The good news is that Vietnam is the strongest team in Group B.
Vietnam lost in the gold medal match against Malaysia two years ago on a painful own goal in the 85th minute, their only loss in the tournament.

Young Azkals lean on De Jong's leadership experience

By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Dutch midfielder Jason de Jong is adjusting to his new role as one of the leaders of the Philippine Under-23 side set to do battle in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

De Jong, 21, is among the most experienced member of the crew composed mostly of 19 and 20-year-olds, having played for the senior Azkals team in big-time competitions like the Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.

“For me, it’s a new thing; I’m curious of what’s gonna happen,” said the tattooed de Jong, known for his physical defending and hard tackles.

“It’s the first time I’m one of the seniors and I have to help other (younger) players; normally, the other players are helping me when I’m with the senior Azkals. Hopefully, we’ll get good results in Indonesia.”

De Jong rejoined the SEAG pool last Wednesday after playing a game with FC Dordrecht, a second division club in Holland, early in the week. He suited up for Phl U-23 when it nipped Chieffy Caligdong and Phl Air Force, 4-2, in a tune-up at Rizal Stadium Thursday.

“Not everyone is here yet,” he said in assessment of the team, which is still expecting the arrival of the other Europe-based players either in next week’s camp in Gotemba, Japan or a few days before the start of SEAG competitions on Nov. 3.

“Okay there’s some lack of communication in our game against Air Force but then again we won the game, good result. We have to get good results in tuneup games in Japan as well and then we will look ahead.”

Phl XI is competing for the first time since hosting the SEAG in 2005, hoping to draw momentum from the progress achieved by the Azkals in gunning for a medal.

“Target is to get a medal, of course. Going there to see what’s gonna happen is not a good idea; we should have a goal and that goal should be at least a medal,” said De Jong.

Junior Azkals leave for Japan camp

By Cheska D. Geli : Sun Star Cebu

IN ORDER to boost its chances in the Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine Under-23 team will leave tomorrow for a weeklong training camp in Japan.

The team will stay at Gotemba City where they will hold training sessions at the foot of Mount Fuji. Two of their scheduled tune-up games are against a local 18-Under team and another local club.

In the last three days of training, the team will move to Tokyo to watch the championship game of the J-League, the premier football league in Japan, and to play their final exhibition match.

“I believe that the Japan camp will make us strong,” said Paolo Pascual, who will be the team’s goalie in Japan practice matches.
The team has concluded its training at the Rizal Stadium, where they usually hold conditioning exercises in the morning and scrimmages in the afternoon.

“It was a good and tough training,” said Pascual.

The team had its first exhibition game against the Philippine Air Force where they had a 4-2 win with Jingoy Valmayor’s two goals and David Basa’s successful attempt.

The team had a more convincing win in their second friendly against the Laos FC, 9-1, with Valmayor and Mark Hartman sharing three goals each. Romeo Martinez and OJ Clarino chipped in a goal, while Laos also had an own goal.

But despite the team’s wins, head coach Michael Weiss wasn’t satisfied with the team’s performance.

“The coach said there are a lot of things to work on,” shared Pascual. Among them are improvements in the defensive strategy.

OJ Porteria and Fil-Belgian Jeffrey Christiaens will join the team in Japan along with veterans Jason de Jong and Manny Ott.

First choice goal keeper Roland Mueller and Carle de Murga will follow the team in Indonesia, where the football matches will start on Nov. 3, a week ahead of the opening ceremony.

Azkals prepare U-23 team for SEA Games medal bid

By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - With the Azkals’ 2011 campaign already done with, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) shifts its resources to preparing the under-23 team for its medal quest in the 26th Southeast Asian Games, which blasts off in less than three weeks in Indonesia.

From the Azkals, coach Michael Weiss goes full-time to honing up and calling the shots for the Phl U-23 side, hoping the mix of Fil-foreign and homegrown booters will make great strides from a training camp in Gotemba, Japan next week.

“There’s really no time to rest. We have to resume training with more intensity (for the Under-23),” said Weiss, who inserted some mainstays of the U-23 team to the seniors crew (Azkals) that placed second in the recent Long Teng Cup in Chinese-Taipei.

“With the national (seniors) team having the Long Teng Cup, the under-23 is a little bit behind. Hopefully, we can catch up in the Japan camp,” he said.

The Under-23 side will be in Gotemba, Japan from Oct. 23-31, to train in the same facilities where the Azkals held camp last March in the buildup for their AFC Challenge Cup playoff match with Mongolia.

Weiss said they are arranging tuneup matches with strong Japanese university teams to prepare his wards for the SEA Games in Indonesia, where football’s schedule was moved to Nov. 3 from its original Nov. 7 kickoff.

Three recruits based abroad, Fil-Spanish Carli de Murga, Fil-German Roland Muller and Fil-Belgian Jeffrey Christiaens, are still uncertain to join the Japan camp, according to team coordinator Jojie Ronda, but have given their commitment to play in the SEAG.

From Japan, the team will return to Manila on Oct. 31 then leave for Jakarta the following day.

Fil-Dutch Azkal Jason de Jong, Fil-German Manuel Ott, Neckson Leonora, Raymark Fernandez, David Basa and Joshua Beloya are among the other mainstays of the team.

“I think we can field an interesting squad to the SEA Games,” said Weiss. “We hope we can connect very well together in Japan in camp and go from there to Indonesia.”

Phl Azkals nip UFL champs, 3-2

By Alder Almo (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals leaned on Ian Araneta’s goal late in the match to get past UFL champion Global FC, 3-2, today in the I Can Serve Football Invitationals at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The Azkals, who used some players from the Under-23 national team in this match, attacked aggressively from the kick-off resulting in Phil Phil Younghusband’s goal off 19-year old Fil-British Mark Hartmann’s perfect assist inside the box barely four minutes into the match.

Global Smartmatic had several chances to score but Eduard Sacapano, Neil Etheridge’s back-up, did a great job defending the pitch for the Azkals in the early minutes of the match.

Saving his own missed shot, Younghusband again connected in the 29th minute mark to double the Azkals’ lead, 2-nil.

Global's relentless attack found a crack on the Azkals’ defense that led to national training pool member Misagh Bahadoran's goal, to cut the lead, 2-1, just before the break.

Global equalized with seven minutes into the second half as Sudanese and UFL’s leading scorer Izzeldin El-Habbib scored on a long lob to tie the match at 2-all. The goal was El-Habbib’s second in the charity tournament that serves as a kick-off to Breast Cancer Awareness Month this coming October.

With the momentum shift, Global FC kept on pressuring the Azkals’ defense, which missed skipper Aly Borromeo and Anton Del Rosario due to various injuries. But Sacapano proved to be tough enough as the back-up goal keeper saved consecutive attempts by Global’s Bahadoran and El-Habbib.

Fresh legs saved the Azkals from a draw with late substitute Araneta making an immediate impact with a header from fellow reserve Jeff Christiaens in the 85th minute.

The win was the second in a row for the Azkals against Global FC, which is also being managed by national team manager Dan Palami.

The Azkals also scored a 3-1 victory against Global FC last Sept. 11 during their Bacolod training camp. With the Younghusband brothers still grieving their mother’s untimely death due to massive heart failure, Hartmann took the scoring cudgels with a hat-trick.

The Azkals will meet Kaya Cignal, which absorbed a 1-nil loss at the hands of Global last Monday, in the final game of the charity tournament organized by the I Can Serve Foundation and backed by LBC and Sun Life.

The match, which is expected to draw a good weekend crowd, will be held on Saturday at 3pm in the same venue. It will be telecast at 5pm on AKTV on IBC Channel 13, TV5's sports channel.

Negrenses test Azkals’ strength in friendly match at Panaad today Province to launch Negros Football League

NAB - The Visayan Daily Star


At 5:30 p.m. today at the Panaad Stadium, Negrenses will be seeing the Under 23 Ceres – Negros Team battle against the national men’s squad Azkals, in a friendly game that will showcase the talent of the local boys who bagged the crown in the PFF Suzuki Cup Under 23 national championship.

The Azkals will be playing minus its Fil-foreign mainstays such as keeper Neil Etheridge, midfield Stephan Schrock and Younghusband brothers James and Phil, who left Bacolod Sunday for Manila where their mother died on Saturday night.

The match against the Negros team will also serve as a tune-up match for the Under 23 Azkals who will be representing the country in the Jakarta Southeast Asian Games slated in November.

Earlier, Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said they have a young team and they are looking for new talents who will boost the lineup. Several Negrense players, who will be playing this afternoon for the Ceres – Negros Team, were invited to join the Azkals’ camp while they are in Bacolod.

Before the game, a preliminary match between Bacolod United and Real Negrense will be held at 4 p.m.

The preliminaries will give the Negrenses a glimpse of the two teams that will be seeing action in the Negros Football League that will kick off on September 17.

Executive Assistant to the Governor Angel “Nonong” Verdeflor yesterday said that they will have a short program this afternoon to launch the NFL.

With football as one of the priority sports programs of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Verdeflor said the NFL will bring out the talents from the countryside and will pave the way for bigger football tournaments in Negros Occidental.

Lending his expertise to the NFL is Junie Lizares, the brains behind the multi-titled Executive Village Football Club, who said the NFL will help the Philippine Football Federation in boosting the stock of talents for the men’s team.

As one of the pillars in PFF’s women’s football development committee, Lizares said it is high team for Negros Occidental to develop its own league that will complement the thrusts of the provincial government.

On its inaugural offering, 16 teams from as far as Kabankalan City in the south and San Carlos City in the north, joining the league.

The teams will be divided into brackets and will play on weekends at the Panaaad, Lizares said.

Listed in Bracket A are: San Carlos FC, Bacolod United FC, Pontevedra FC, Sagay FC, Las Buenas FC, Magallon United FC, City of Kabankalan FC, and Bago City FC.

Grouped in Bracket B are Real Negrense FC, Ceres Liner FC, Himamaylan FC, La Castellana FC, La Carlota City FC, Minuluan Talisay FC, Don Bosco FC, and Cadiz FC.

Azkals win tune-up game in Bacolod

Malaya Business News


NATIONAL Under-23 team aspirant Mark Hartmann scored a hat trick to power the Azkals to a 3-1 win over Global FC in a tune-up match last Sunday at the Pana-ad Stadium in Bacolod City.

Hartmann, 19, a solidly-built 6-foot Fil-Brit midfielder, had two goals in the first half and one in the second for the nationals, who played without co-skippers Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong and the Younghusband brothers.

Ange Tressor Guiso scored Global’s lone marker from a spot kick.

Fellow national Under-23 hopefuls–defender Jerry Barbaso and goalie Paolo Pascual–played for Global, national team manager Dan Palami’s ballclub playing in the UFL.

Phil and James Younghusand, who arrived with the team last Thursday in Bacolod to prepare for its stint in the Long Teng Invitational Cup in Taiwan at the end of this month, returned to Manila last Sunday after their Filipina mom, Susan, died of a heart attack Saturday night. Her body lies in state at the Funeraria Paz in Sucat, Paranaque.

The Azkals’ next exhibition match will be today against Ceres-Bacolod, the reigning PFF-Suzuki Cup national under-23 champion.

Marañon waives tickets to Azkals’ friendly game

The Visayan Dail Star

Governor Alfredo Marañon wants the football match between the Philippine Azkals and the Ceres – Negros at the Panaad Stadium on September 13 open to the public and free of charge, Executive Assistant to the Governor for Sports Angel Verdeflor said yesterday.

He said they have to set aside their plans to charge P200, P100, and P50 for tickets to allow the public to watch the Azkals play for free.

While some of the Fil-foreign players will not be able to join the team in Bacolod City from September 8 to 15, Verdeflor said James and Phil Younghusbands will be part of the group.

It will be a good match as the Ceres – Negros First Under 23 squad has proven its strength against the best in the country during the Suzuki national championships in summer, Verdeflor said.

He added that the Negrense team will be a good match to the Azkals as they get ready for their stint in Taiwan later this month for the four-nation Long Teng Cup.

The Azkals will arrive on Thursday and will play against the Korean-reinforcedCentral Philippine University of Iloilo City the next day and against Global Manila on September 11.

Southeast Asian Games-bound Azkals plan Japan training

By Cedelf P. Tupas - Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA—The Phillipines Football Federation (PFF) is eyeing Japan as a possible training location for the national under-23 team that will see action in the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia in December.

This was confirmed by PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, who said that the Under-23 Azkals plan to be in Japan for at least a week in October for the final phase of their buildup for the biennial meet.

The senior Azkals actually trained in Japan early this year for their away clash with Mongolia in the AFC Challenge Cup.

The Philippines has not participated in men’s football in the last two SEA Games stagings, but team officials are hopeful the Filipino booters can finally nail a medal this time.

Several players from the senior squad like goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and midfielders Jason de Jong, Manuel Ott, Yannick Tuason and Simon Greatwich are all eligible for the SEA Games, raising hopes of a strong performance in Jakarta.

Araneta said the Azkals are also holding a week-long training camp in Bacolod in September to prepare for the Long Teng Cup.

Meanwhile, Araneta announced that the minor kinks have been ironed out in the PFF’s memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Sports Commission in relation to the Fifa Goal Project at the Philsports pitch.

The PFF head honcho said that, on the recommendation of International Football Federation (Fifa), the PFF and PSC have agreed to a 50-50 sharing from the earnings from the use of the artificial turf that will be constructed at the Philsports.

The PFF is leasing the facility for the next 25 years.

The PFF’s share from the revenues, Araneta said, will go to the maintenance of the artificial pitch.

A Fifa representative is scheduled to visit PhilSports in September to determine the requirements for the construction of the artificial pitch.

Malaysia booters face a dilemma

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO - Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Malaysia may just field in a not-so-strong second unit when it defends its men’s football crown in the Southeast Asian Games three months from now, a development that could boost the Philippines and the rest of the field’s gold medal aspirations in the biennial meet slated in Indonesia.

The Football Association of Malaysia maybe forced to use its Under-23 team ‘B’ in the regional kickfest after its ‘A’ team, known as Harimau Muda, found itself in a middle of the clash of dates for the 2012 London Olympics qualifier and the SEA Games.

The Philippines is looking to land a first ever medal since competing in the event in 1977.

The SEAG football games begin Nov. 7 and the final is on Nov. 22 while Malaysia’s campaign in the Olympic qualifiers starts with an away match against Japan on Sept. 21 followed by two home matches against Syria and Bahrain on Nov. 23 and 27 respectively, according to a report by The Star (Malaysia).

Given this tight schedule, it will be nearly impossible for Malaysia to field its best squad on both competitions.

Malaysia is the hands down favorite in the SEAG on the strength of its title conquest in 2009 at the expense of Vietnam, a win that ended a 20-year title drought.

But the same report said that “assuming they (Malaysia) qualify for the (SEAG) final (on Nov. 22) there is no way they can play the Olympic qualifying match against Syria in Kuala Lumpur the following day (on Nov 23). Under FIFA competition regulations the players must have 48 hours of rest after an international game.”

Malaysia coach Ong Kim Swee, who is presiding over a training camp in Slovakia, said he will ask the Asian Football Confederation to re-schedule the Nov. Olympic qualifying dates to resolve the dilemma.

“I hope we can get a favorable reply, if not we are in trouble,” Kim Swee told The Star.

“Fielding two teams is not the option. The SEA Games is part of the preparations for the Olympic qualifiers. So, it is not going to do any good by having two teams but again if we have no choice we will have to. Personally, I want the best team for the two competitions and if there is no choice, then, it is up to FAM to make a decision – whether to field a second team for the SEA Games,” Kim Swee continued.

Reached for comment, Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta said if ever Malaysia opts to field a second team, it will raise the Filipinos’ chances for medals.

“Malaysia’s first team is really strong. They just lost to Chelsea 0-1 in Chelsea’s Asian Tour last month,” Araneta said.

Football fed focuses on coaches' training

By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Aside from beefing up the Azkals team with high-level players, the Philippines Football Federation is also looking to enhance the skills of local coaches to boost the overall development of the sport in the country.

Coach Michael Weiss reported that during his recent vacation in Germany, he has made arrangements with the German Football Association (DFB) for four Filipino coaches to attend a C license course in Koblenz.

“We can send four coaches from the Philippines, amongst them Yanti Barsales and Edsel Bracamonte, to go for a three-week intensive C license course from the German FA in Koblenz,” Weiss said.

At the same time, the DFB also agreed to bring a technical adviser – Krautzen Ekhardt – to the Philippines by October to assess the grassroots and youth development programs here, in preparation for a longer program.

“He will go to all the provinces and check football centers and schools, and make analysis, present it to the PFF and DFB in order to bring a (long term) technical adviser for two to four years starting next year,” Weiss said.

While in the country, Ekhardt will also help the Phl Under-23 team scout its opponents in the coming Southeast Asian Games.

Another veteran German mentor in Michael Kruger will come over to join Weiss’ coaching staff for the SEAG campaign, helping in the transfer of technology to local coaches along the way.

“This is good news for Phl football because we need to lift the level of coaches, and grassroots development, too,” said Weiss, whose Azkals crew is set to compete in the Long Teng Cup in Kaohsiung, Chinese-Taipei next month.

2 Azkals may miss match

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO - Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and attacking midfielder Marcus Stephan Schrock are unlikely to join the Philippine football team when it sees action in the Long Teng Cup slated in Kaohsiung, Taiwan late next month.

The four-nation tourney is the first of many lined up for the Azkals following their elimination in the second round of the World Cup qualifiers last July.

The presence of the two players, who shone against the Kuwaitis during the qualifiers, will surely strengthen the Azkals’ chances, but team manager Dan Palami said he may just tap their services for a more important competition in the future.

The 6-foot-2 Fil-British Etheridge, 21, is set to be promoted as regular reliever on the first team of Fulham, which competes in the Premiere League, while the 5-foot-5 Fil-German Schrock is busy with his ballclub Greuther Furth playing in the German second division.

“It’s unlikely that he (Etheridge) will play. For Schorck, may be not also,” Palami said in a recent interview.

“We want to preserve our relationship with their teams, so we bring in the players only when it’s absolutely necessary,” continued Palami, who left for Europe Wednesday to scout possible reinforcements for the Azkals.

Palami, though, said the Under-23 pool preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in November will join the Azkals in the event, where they are bidding to improve on their second place finish behind Hong Kong last year.

The Sept. 28-Oct. 6 competition will have competing teams from Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong and Philippines although Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta Jr said the organizers plan to expand the cast to six.

Last year, the Philippines finished with a 1-1-1 record in the competition, thumping Macau, (5-0) drawing with Taiwan (1-1) and bowing to Hong Kong (4-2).

Palami eyes four-nation Cup for Azkals

By Cheska D. Geli - Sun Star Cebu

DAN Palami is planning a series of friendly matches for the Philippine national team for its buildup for the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup.

“One of the many key elements for the team is to play as many international friendly matches as possible,” Palami told Sun.Star Cebu.

The country is looking at hosting the Formations Cup this November where they have invited Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

It will be the senior team who will be seeing action as the under-23 squad will be playing in the Southeast Asian Games during that month.

Aside from that, Palami has already gotten in touch with other international football associations, with the help of the Philippine Football Federation, for some home and away friendly matches.

“It will still depend upon the schedule of the international calendar and the availability of players,” said Palami.

Fifa sets aside certain dates in a year for international matches and clubs are required to release their players to play for their national teams.

Palami said there are some countries who have confirmed interest to play with the national squad, like those from the Middle East—where the team had their training camp—and from Southeast Asia.

Aside from scheduling friendlies, Palami said he will leave for a scouting trip in Europe to look for potential members of the senior and U23 squad, while the rest of the players are now back with their clubs.

Janeo: Azkals need long-term preparation

By Jerome S. Galunan Jr. - Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper

THE 2-1 setback suffered by the Philippine Men’s Football National Team-Azkals last Thursday night and the 3-nil upset on an away game last Saturday in the hands of the much stronger Kuwait-Al Azraq squad only justified that the nationals are less prepared in the bid for the 2014 World Cup.

For a team with players playing together in less than a year, expectation should not be that high, compared to a squad that has bonded for several years. This was clearly seen during the match between the Azkals and Azraq.

The lack of familiarization among the Azkals has caused the squad’s numerous unsuccessful run during the match.

These were the observations of PFF-Suzuki U23 National Cup champion Negros-Ceres Team assistant coach Ramon Janeo.

He said that the Azkals lacked communication during the match.

“Hindi nila masyado kilala ang isa’t isa. Ito marahil ay dahil sa maiksing panahon sa pagbuo ng team,” Janeo theorized.

“So dapat ang gawin ng Philippine Football Federation is to plan a long term team preparation. Hindi ‘yong isang buwan na lang ang game o tournament, doon pa lang tayo mag-start sa pagbuo ng team,” Janeo stressed.

But Janeo commended the efforts of the Azkals during the Thursday match. “With regard to the team’s performance, ok naman kahit natalo because they played hard together,” he said.

On the other hand, Azkals media officer Rick Olivares disclosed that national team head coach Michael Weiss admitted during the post-game press conference that they have given Kuwait lots of space to score. Likewise, they were also concerned with Kuwait’s speed all series long.

Olivares further shared Weiss’ notes that if Phil Younghusband scored early and if Angel Guirado nailed that header, that would have been a very big boost. But they were unable to finish properly.

However, if Weiss was sparing in his praise, Kuwait was more effusive, Olivares said.

He reiterated that Kuwati forward Hamad Al-Enezi said that if the Azkals keep what they are doing, the Filipinos will be an Asian power in two or maybe four years. He said that the Azkals have the skills and the players and only need to keep them together.

The media officer also added that Kuwait coach Goran Tefugdzic admitted that it was a challenge playing the Philippines, adding, that the nationals gave them trouble in both Legs but their experience brought them to victory.

As of the moment, the focus of the national team will be the Under-23 squad which will compete in the Southeast Asian Games this coming November in Indonesia and the next phase of the AFC Challenge Cup.